Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1887-08-20
INTER-OCEAN
KICKER.
The Trouble that a Clerk Caused
IN the Department.

Special Correspondence Of the INTER OCEAN,
WASHINGTON, August. Is. Throw
up your hands and cwn up. 1t was a
who did 1t. There is a
man in the Office of the surgeon gen.
eral named Brown, who is regular kick
Or. Before the election of Cleveland he
was a Republican. He was a rabid
Republican. He believed all Demo
Gratis were thieves and liars and ras-
Gals. When Cleveland was elected he
changed his tune. He sang to a low
key. Finally he ceased to sing. He
had no right to expect to be retained in
Office by a Democratic administration F;
but he remained there, without su6i-
cient nerve to resign. He was retained.
That satisfied him for a time, but again
he began to kick. Different clerks were
promoted upon the recommendation of
the surgeon general, and nothing in the
way Of advanced compensation came to
him. Finally, he wrote a letter to the
secretary of war, the Massachusetts,
man, and complained of the promo
lions which were made. He criticised
the surgeon general and his recommend
atoms. Instead of dismissing him IS
Lincoln, Ramsey, McCrary, Belknap,
Stanton, or any other secretary of wal
would have done, Mr.. Endicott referred
Browns letter back to the surgeon gen.
eral for explanation. OF course the
surgeon general pulled the record of
Brown, and his general character as a
kicker and dlsturber of the peace of the
Office; and the secretary of war was
satisfied. He allowed Brown to subside
and gnash his gums in rage.
Promotions were made again; and
again Brown kicked, and wrote a letter
of remonstrance, because his greatness
had been over looked in the distribution
of prizes. That was too much for the
secretary. He determined there should
be no more of that kind Of thing; SO
he called upon the civil service COM
missioners to examine the clerks in his
department to ascertain their efficiency
and merit for promotion, reduction, or
dismissal. That is what caused the
recent new departure of the civil
service commission, for while they have
been so severely and unanimously crit.
icised. 1t was all caused by an insig'
niicant Republican hold-over clerk.
1t is something for Republicans to be
ashamed of; but it is true. And it is
better to tell the truth about such mat
tiers, than to smother it and play the
hypocrite. Such things happen so
rarely within the Republican party that
it is safe enough to make acknowledge
ments when they do occur. 1, with
all the rest of the correspondents.
abused the commission for it's action in
this matter, %believeing that the exam.
nation was uncalled for and that it was
merely a pretense on the part of the
commissioners in order to turn out
clerks. That was doing them an in.
justice. They were obliged, under the
law, to respond to the call of the sec
rotary of war. They but performed theil
duty. But Secretary Edicott did not
perform his duty. If he was as good a
Democrat as he ought to be, he would
understand that this IS a Demo
cratic administration, and that Demo
Gratis should hold the offices and be
responsible for it. He ought not to re
tain Republican clerks, especially those
who kick and froth and whine and how
because their bread is not buttered OH
both sides, when they ought to be darnet
glad to get the dry bread alone, withou'
any trimmings. These are the word;
of political wisdom, slightly seasoned
with the red pepper of earnestness.
These facts are explained and pre-.
scented to the public for the first time
today. The facts have just been enun.
ciated by fellow clerks of Brown, mel
who are angry with him for thu
annoyance which he has caused them,
and the fright which DER took them al
first. The recent examinations in thu
war department have caused several tc
lose their bread and butter, because, al
though they were good clerks, they
could not pass examination such al
they were subject to. 1t is but natural
that there should be complaints and
bitter invectives. But the blame
should not be put upon the civil ser
vice commissioners for what they coulc
not help. The real blame rests upol
the secretary of wal who did not settl
the entire matter by dismissing the
man who caused the trouble in tn,
first place. 1t was weak and cowardly
for him to fall back upon the civil ser
vice commission, and tear his " de
partment topsy turvy on account of
kicker or any number of kickers.
Important If Correct.
Aberoeen News.
The treasurer of Minnehaha count,